The Theocracy of Seitch

The faith is governed by the Reverend Mother, the faithful believe she is embodied with the power to identify traits given to people by the Gods. She is also the nations figurehead, and while having no political power she is highly influential. The Reverend Mother also is the person to appoint people to the various elements of the faith and approve marriages for the four families believed to be blessed by the Gods. She is based at Chapterhouse which is the central administration centre of the faith.

Girls are recruited into the Sisterhood from the age of four onwards and are educated at Chapterhouse in the mysterious, history and rituals of the faith. A person may join later but would then be expected to never be able to join certain aspects of the Sisterhood. The Sisterhood actively seeks girls to join who are believed in some way to be blessed by the Gods. The Sisterhood has four main bodies.

1. THE MOTHERS

The Mothers are the Priestesses, their role is to preach, teach and educate people about the faith. They also carry out rituals and lead congregations in prayers as well as organising festivals. The Mothers are educated for sixteen years and then become an Apprentice under an established Mother. Mother's can marry and have children but only with permission of the Reverend Mother, usually this is granted unless it is believed the candidate has the potential to one day be the Reverend Mother.

2. MISSIONARIA PROTECTIVA

These are a form of research body, they keep detailed family histories of important families beyond the Four Holy Houses as well as exploring the background of candidates for the Sisterhood. They also publish the faiths religious texts, journals and carry out much of the religious teaching at Chapterhouse. They are usually educated themselves at Chapterhouse for at least twelve years and are often consulted extensively before arranged marriages.

3. HONORED MATRES

These are members of the Sisterhood who have been viewed as being exceptionally blessed by the Gods. They are women who are expected to give birth to and raise the next generation of the Sisterhood. They act as concubines to The Four Holy Houses and have historically sometimes become wives in these families. More often they are granted as Concubines in order to breed exceptionally gifted Priestesses. The Reverened Mother arranges relationships between Honored Matres and the Four Holy Families when she believes a son is exceptionally blessed. They also act as pastoral carers to those girls being trained at Chapterhouse.

4. TRUTHSAYERS

This is the military order of the Sisterhood, while not traditional combat soldiers they serve as bodyguards to the Sisterhood, ensure the safety of Chapterhouse and actively defend the organisation from threats. In recent times this has seen them become active in cyber warfare as a way of protecting the Sisterhood's management systems. In the past they have fought alongside the nations military should the nation be threatened and rumours of a mysterious organisation within the Truthsayers known as the Swordsmasters who are rumoured to be spies and commandos.

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The Priesthood is referred to as Mothers. They enter Chapterhouse before the age of six and spend their lives until the age of 18 studying and in prayer. They are taught linguistics, History, Theology, Literature, Maths, Biology and focus on learning the teachings of previous Reverend Mothers

At the age of 18 each Mother drinks the "Water of Life" a mix of plant extracts that send the drinker into a hallucinogenic trance. They are observed during this trance and those deemed to be in the favor of the Gods are passed onto further study under the tutorship of a fully fledged Mother. Anyone deemed truly exceptional is tutored by the Reverend Mother and known as a Reverend Sister. Those failing the right of passage are either offered a position in the Missionaria Protectiva or Honored Matres, any unwilling to enter those trades leave the Sisterhood.

Most Mothers once qualified shave their head and dependent on their place of worship and own culture they wear an ornate head-dress. They often wear black and gold dresses, however the Reverend Mother is the exception, she wears green and grows her hair long.

These ladies enter Chapterhouse between the ages of 4-8, they act as a combination of a civil service and research arm of the Sisterhood. They are considered highly intelligent and have studied a wide range of subjects but a focus on Theology, History, Biology and Literature are key. They research the major houses, all noble's prior to marriage as well as carrying out archealogical and preservation works on artefacts.

At the age of 18 all potential Missionra Protectiva sit an extensive exam which they must pass, those failing are often offered positions within the Honored Matres or leave the order. Occasionally they are permitted to resit at the will of the Reverend Mother. The group also provide the majority of the teaching staff at Chapterhouse.

They wear a dark blue military style uniform while inside Chapterhouse or travelling on official business, often it is enough to get them access to the most sensitive of materials.

The Paramilitary Wing of the Order they are highly trained soldiers, many would consider them commando's. Most enter Chapterhouse aged between 4-10. While at Chapterhouse they learn Theology, Maths, Geography, History, Science and Physical Education. From the age of eight they begin learning military subjects such as first aid, unarmed combat and map reading this progresses until by the age of 16 they would be considered competent soldiers. Like the military they wear uniform and have a rank structure. Anyone not deemed to have reached a sufficient standard of fitness or competency is offered a position in the Honored Matres or leaves the Sisterhood.

They serve as guards for Chapterhouse and other religious sites as well as provide security for the Reverend Mother. Occasionally they have fought alongside the regular military of Kaitaine.

There is a Top Secret element of the Truthsayers called the Swordmasters who receive extra training and serve as spies and assassins for the Sisterhood. They number less than 50 and not even they know who is a member.

The Honored Matres are usually admitted to Chapterhouse at later ages than the other branches, the oldest usually being around 10 years of age. Often they are "gifted" to the Sisterhood by poorer families who know this presents an opportunity to exit poverty.

These girls are educated in Maths, Biology, Theology, Physical Education, Music and Art. They also receive training in child care and "domestic sciences". They are essentially conditioned to accept their roles as concubines to noble men. At the age of 18 they are often "gifted" to a noble whom the Reverned Mother believes is a good genetic match for them. Those being unpaired may be matched later or serve as pastoral carers for younger girls at Chapterhouse. They also receive advice on keeping their assigned nobleman happy both physically and mentally and are said to be exceptional lovers.

They wear a red trousered uniform with long shirt however upon being gifted they tend to only wear uniform on official occasions.

Their children take the surname Matres and are considered to be worthy of honour. Male children often are brought up within the noble family and join the military, female children are sent to Chapterhouse at the age of four.

THE CURRENT HOUSE ATREIDES​

62,500 Regulars
31,000 Reservists

103,000 Regular
34,800 Reservists

42,000 Regulars
19,000 Reservists

Commanded by Brigadier Holmes

This is the Seitch military elite. This is made up of around 800 Legionnaires. To become a member you must first serve at least 5 years in the military and then pass an intensive 31 week training and selection period. After that any member of the Legion can veto your entry by placing your name on the base doors. Once enlisted in the Legion you are on probation for 12 months.

SADARKAR SELECTION PROCESS

Stage 1 - Application

A potential Legionnaire must have served a minimum of five years in any branch of the military. To apply they must receive a nomination from two officers and then pass an interview with a Sadarkar NCO. After the initial NCO interview the canidadate undergoes various aptitude tests and psychological profiling.

Stage 2 -Sadarkar Orientation (1week)

Candidates are required to make their way to Legion HQ where the course takes place. Candidates undertake a map and compass test, a swimming test, a first aid test and a combat fitness test. Each day features a "Sergeants Adventure" which is some form of adapted run, such as combat run from an unknown location back to HQ. Each day sees distances, weights carried and difficulty of terrain increase.

Stage 3 - Fitness and Navigation (4 weeks)

This section starts with basic fitness tests, a 2.4km run to be completed in under 9mins30 seconds, followed immediatly by 45 press ups and 55 sit ups to be completed in two minutes each.

Each week follows a "Trial" at the end. These are tests designed to see a candidates progress and time limits vary dependent on local conditions.

Week 1 - 15km run complete with kit
Week 2 - The Figure of 8. A 24km march to be completed while reading a map and carrying 18kg rucksack, 5kg rifle and each Legionnaire must be in possession of a litre of water when they finish.

Week 3 -Endurance - Using a hand sketched map the Legionnaire must cover 35km carrying 18kg of kit, 5kg rifle and radio. They must navigate from RV to RV meeting an instructor at each stage.

Week 4 - The Long Drag - A 65km navigated route march to be completed in around 20 hours. Candidates must use map and compass to navigate between memorised Grid References where a NCO is waiting. The Legionnaires rucksack must weigh 25kg upon completion and a standard issue rifle must be carried.

Stage 4 - Initial Continuation Training (14 weeks)

This consists of detailed and realistic training in weapon handling, vehicle handling, demolitions and small unit patrol tactics. The candidates are assessed each day and any failing to make progress return to their unit immediately.

Stage 5 - Desert Training (6 weeks)

Desert training is usually carried out in the Steich Desert with candidates allocated to a four man patrol, each patrol supervised by a serving Sadarkar NCO. Heat and dehydration are persistent, potentially demoralising the candidate, and skin contusions, heat stroke, and at night hyperthermia and blisters must be cared for due to the risk of infection. Training includes survival, patrol techniques, navigation, vehicle handling, camp and observation post techniques, contact drills and medicine.
The final test encompasses these skills, where all things that have been learned must be applied correctly in a tactical environment. Any candidate thought not to be making progress is returned to their unit.

Stage 6 - S.E.R.E Skills(survive, escape, resist, exfil) (5 weeks)

Using skills learned so far the potential Legionnaire receives detailed training in Survival skills, Escape and evasion, resistance to capture and exfiltration. Any candidate thought not to be making progress is returned to their unit.

Week four see's Legionnaires given ill fitting 1960's equipment and a hand drawn map. They are to evade capture while travelling between checkpoints with a Hunter force chasing them. Once caught or upon reaching the final checkpoint they are "captured", often realistically, and taken to the Army's interegation centre. There they undertake a week of interegation where giving anything other than "Name, Rank, Number, Date of Birth and "Sorry I can't answer that question" " results in a fail. Candidates are exposed to sleep deprivation, extreme heat and cold, starvation, dehydration and other forms of mental torture.

Stage 7 - War Games (1week)

Potential Legionnaires are attached to a patrol preparing for deployment to a live theatre. Here the recruit experiences day to day life as a Legionnaire and is expected to be able to integrate within a patrol. The exact nature of this stage depends very much on the operational deployment of the patrol. The NCO of the patrol may return the candidate to their unit at any time.

Final Parade

During the final parade candidates who have passed so far are placed on parade with the whole of the Legion that is not deployed. During the parade they are presented with their Red and Black Beret unless a serving member of the Legion veto's their entrance to the Legion.

Probation (12months)

During this time the Legionnaire serves as a member of the unit, upon completion of the Probation period the patrol they have served on vote as to whether to give them their full red beret. A majority decision is taken, if they vote to not present the full red beret the Legionnaire is returned to their original unit.